Learning visit FAQ's

All our learning sessions are free but we do actively encourage donations to help it remain that way.

Please contact the museum reception on 020 3228 4227.

Monday – Tuesday: 50
Wednesday – Friday: 30

You do not need to book for a group less than 10 – please refer to our opening hours.

Our facilitated visits require 10 or more as there are parts that involve discussion and group
work.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate facilitated sessions on Saturdays. We might occasionally be able to take some small group bookings (up to 10) for a self-guided visit. However, this will be subject to staff availability.

We do not have a strict ratio for students/teachers, but we recommend the following minimum: 

Ages 11 - 16: 1:10/15

Ages 16 - 18: 1:30 

Ages 18+: 1 responsible adult per group

Yes – please let us know if you need a copy of our risk assessment during the booking process. We also encourage educators to arrange a pre-visit where possible to conduct their own risk assessment. Please use our contact us form or phone 020 3228 4227 if this is something you would be interested in.

Yes – please let us know if you need a copy of the certificate when booking your visit, and we will e-mail it to you.

You can view a list of our accessibility facilities here.

A facilitated visit usually takes 3 hours and includes a break for lunch. 

A self-guided visit starts with a 10–15 minute introduction, after which your group will have free time to explore the museum spaces. We recommend allowing for 45 to 90 minutes. 

We occasionally have capacity to extend facilitated visits, though it depends on staff availability and other bookings. Please indicate in your initial booking form if this is something that you are interested in. 

We understand that you may be travelling some distance for your visit and may wish to visit other nearby museums. Please get in touch with them separately, using the links below:

Down House, home of Charles Darwin – 20 minute drive 

Horniman Museum and Gardens, award-winning anthropology and natural history museum – 22 minute drive

Science Museum – 1 hour drive 

Wellcome Collection, museum looking at the connections between Science, Medicine, Life and Art – 1 hour 5 minute drive 

National Justice Museum: Education at the Royal Courts of Justice – 1 hour drive

Freud Museum, home of Sigmund and Anna Freud – 1 hour 20 minute drive

We have a “conversation starter” activity sheet which is to be used in pairs, available to all self-guided groups. You are also welcome to create and bring your own activity if required. 

It would be preferable to bring a packed lunch as, although you are welcome to use the hospital canteen, food options and seating can be limited. Your group will be welcome to use the learning room and outdoors spaces to eat lunch. If you do wish to use the canteen it would be helpful to know in advance. If you are visiting with a larger group (over 20), your group will be split in to two to help with overcrowding. There is also a KFC and McDonalds off site, both within a 10-minute walk, although your group may not have time to get there and back during a facilitated session. You can also buy tea and coffee in the hospital canteen.

There is limited parking for cars around the hospital site, all parking here is free. There is also unrestricted street parking.

Whilst you are welcome to drop off your group outside the museum, there is no coach parking on site as we are a working hospital. Coaches are welcome to find space on Monks Orchard Road, where there is unrestricted parking and the road is wide.

Eden Park (30 mins from London Bridge), followed by a 15 min walk or 356 bus (towards Shirley - The Bethlem Royal Hospital stop).

East Croydon (15 mins from London Victoria), followed by 119 bus (towards Bromley - Shirley Baptist Church stop) or 198 (towards Shrublands - Monks Orchard Road stop).

We have lockers big enough for hand luggage. Unfortunately, there is not suitable space for suitcases or larger luggage.

There is a small gift shop, all profits help keep us free to all and support the museum’s work.

Photography without flash is permitted within the museum. However, the museum is on a hospital site and as such photography is not permitted on the surrounding grounds.